Tubac and Bisbee, AZ

We've spent this week exploring southern Arizona. Here's some places we tried in the are(alas Velvet Elvis in Patagonia has been closed for their summer vacation so we'll have to get back down here to try that on another trip. It's been very quiet and slow in SouthEast Arizona this week and we're finding many places closed. Here's some we have tried:

TUBACNob Hill

We first went into the Artist's Palette next door as it was a bit less expensive and we thought we were in the mood to split a pizza. Unfortunately the owner and the cook were both running the kitchen and the front....and with only a couple places open in town and an early bird special they seemed to have attracted a fairly big crowd, included a ten top of retirees that were complaining about not having their food yet. It had the makings of a not pleasant experience so we went next door to Nob Hill...which is more "upscale"(mostly more expensive really).

I had a fairly basic capellini with tomatoes and basil...the ingredients were fresh and the pasta well cooked....but way too much strong garlic(and I like garlic! this was way too strong though). My husband went with a "local Tubac recipe" that was beef simmered in chiles and spices served with rice and beans. Pretty tasty particularly the beans(no doubt tons of lard).

The bill was about $45 with one glass of wine. This same establishment owns a bakery that we ended up at for coffee the next morning(unfortunately not realizing there was another open place in town...everythign looked locked up until 10). The drip coffee was terrible. I ordered a cappucino which was all milk no foam. The muffin my husband had was left over from the day before. Bill was $11. Coffee served in paper cups even though we ordered in. For a place that styles itself as linking to the city's San Francisco ties they could at least not use disposable cups for in house orders. Definitely pass on this and try the other two coffee places in town - the Deli and coffee place is open at 6:30 AM. We had a cup of coffee here later in the day and it was much better coffee. The muffins and pastries looked good but we didn't try any.

Shelby's BistroStopped in here for lunch. We split a black bean burger so didn't taste much of the menu...but the burger was tasty nonetheless...lots of flavor for a vegetarian patty. The accompanying fries were very good and dusted with chile powder. The patio is very pleasant. Several people in town recommended this when we asked for a place to eat. Limited dinner hours during the summer however - especially midweek.

Dos Silos - this is the Mexican restaurant at the Tubac Golf resort where we were staying. Surprisingly not bad. I had Camerones Rancheros which were full of flavor and lots of fresh bell peppers and onions along with the chile. Husband had the Ensalada de Res which was mixed greens with beef, avocado, goat cheese and a lime vinaigrette. He enjoyed it. The margaritas here are made with fresh lime and tasty.

We didn't make it to Wisdom's down in Tumacacori but it was also recommended highly by several people. Family owned and a local institution specializing in basic Mexican and American items, as well as the fruit burros for dessert. Definitely going to try it on a future trip.

BISBEE

Slim pickings here mid week during the summer(which is not good news considering the normally slim pickings.) Cafe Roka was closed for their summer vacation. Everything in town was closed at night except for a couple choices.

Santiago'sStopped in here for lunch. We both had the squash tacos on the lunch menu. They were very good! Sauteed squash in soft tacos with corn and oaxaca cheese. Served with rice or beans(beans were nothign special).

Bisbee GrillTried this for dinner. I had a buffalo burger without a bun because I was craving a baked potato to go along side. The burger was good...and cooked a perfect medium rare. topped with swiss and flavorful bacon. Baked potato was a baked potato...but it hit the spot! Husband had a thai chicken wrap...tasting and fresh. With a sesame vinaigrette instead of heavy peanut sauce. We both were pleasantly surprised with dinner.

We had seen a berry/rhubarb pie earlier in the day at the Bisbee Coffee co(bitter espresso! blech!) and were hoping to get a piece here for dessert as they're the same owners but no luck and no fruit pies or desserts available(standard creme brulee, brownie explosion, etc)...and the coffee shop had locked up tight at 6 pm so there was no getting pie there either. That left the only remaining choice in town: the Copper Queen

Copper QueenWe just wanted dessert...but the restaurant was pretty empty so they were happy to have us stop in for coffee and dessert. They had a peach cobbler which filled the fruit pie/dessert craving. It wasn't bad...could have used more fruit but the flavor was good. The coffee was delicious and we learned that it was from the Bisbee Coffee roaster...will definitely have to order some beans!

We had stopped in Tombstone midday one afternoon...but didn't see anything that looked interesting for lunch. Everything seemed to scream tourist trap so we passed on lunch and waited to get to Bisbee...maybe there's a secret gem?

If the Bisbee roaster you are talking about is Old Bisbee Roasters, I heartily encourage you to grab some beans. I've been drinking Seths coffee since I ran into him at the 4th Ave. street faire in Tucson a few years ago, and it has been consistently excellent.